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How many more years would I have to do to become an electrician?
I would to prepare myself for the years to come.
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Liam’s Answer
Hello Tobias! Most apprenticeships are usually 4-6 years. This would be the best way to become an electrician because you are working with career electricians who are able to explain what you will need to know on the job and what specifically you will need to know out of the textbook (especially the NEC codebook!) Some regions require a little bit more than an apprenticeship to get your license but it is usually based on the amount of hours worked on the job plus number of classes taken. This means that if you go about getting a license with the help of a contractor and a community college it will be up to you to log your hours, classes, and figure out how to apply for the right licenses at the right time.
As far as getting licenses, you don't HAVE to have a license to work as an electrician. This however will significantly limit what kind of work you do and the freedom you have to move around companies. If you got a job with an electrical contractor tomorrow, work with tools for that contractor, and are doing electrician tasks by the end of the week, congrats you are an electrician! The problem is you won't know how to bend conduit, size conductors, size breakers, support raceways, or other things a qualified electrician is able to do. Most electricians come up working for a family member or family friend and eventually enter some sort of apprenticeship so they can become qualified the way they need to in order to do larger jobs or more critical work.
Keep doing your research and keep trying to find opportunities and keep applying yourself and you will likely find a path to being an electrician. Look up what the requirements are for a journeyman's license in your area as well as a master, that will give you a clearer answer. Call your IBEW local in your area or the JATC associated with them and see what their requirements are. The common licenses for most electricians in most places in the United States are a state journeyman's license, OSHA-30 (30 hour safety class), and NFPA 70-E (certificate that allows you to work around energized work). The average apprenticeship will get you to a journeyman level and get you into an OSHA-30 class. NFPA 70-E is kind of new and your company provides that for you.
Look up IBEW and figure out where they are located (what local?),
Find their associated JATC and where they are located.
Call the JATC and see if they have an informational day (career fair etc).
Look up Journeman Electrician, Master Electrician, Apprentice Electrician in your local area (usually state).
DONT GIVE UP! WE NEED ELECTRICIANS!!!
As far as getting licenses, you don't HAVE to have a license to work as an electrician. This however will significantly limit what kind of work you do and the freedom you have to move around companies. If you got a job with an electrical contractor tomorrow, work with tools for that contractor, and are doing electrician tasks by the end of the week, congrats you are an electrician! The problem is you won't know how to bend conduit, size conductors, size breakers, support raceways, or other things a qualified electrician is able to do. Most electricians come up working for a family member or family friend and eventually enter some sort of apprenticeship so they can become qualified the way they need to in order to do larger jobs or more critical work.
Keep doing your research and keep trying to find opportunities and keep applying yourself and you will likely find a path to being an electrician. Look up what the requirements are for a journeyman's license in your area as well as a master, that will give you a clearer answer. Call your IBEW local in your area or the JATC associated with them and see what their requirements are. The common licenses for most electricians in most places in the United States are a state journeyman's license, OSHA-30 (30 hour safety class), and NFPA 70-E (certificate that allows you to work around energized work). The average apprenticeship will get you to a journeyman level and get you into an OSHA-30 class. NFPA 70-E is kind of new and your company provides that for you.
Liam recommends the following next steps:
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Robin’s Answer
Choosing a “trade” will always ensure you constant, well paid, employment. Choosing a reputable trades college will go along way. The programs are generally 2 years, plus an apprenticeship with a reputable firm.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Updated
Phong’s Answer
Hi Tobias
I hope you will get better in the future.
Which level you set in mind for electrician job: helper, jouneyman, technician, formen, certificate, contractor, designer maybe range from 1 to 6 years.
Good luck
PT
I hope you will get better in the future.
Which level you set in mind for electrician job: helper, jouneyman, technician, formen, certificate, contractor, designer maybe range from 1 to 6 years.
Good luck
PT